Masonry wall joint and cover therefor



1962 H. w. PETTY 3,066,451

MASONRY WALL JOINT AND CQVER THEREFOR Filed Oct. 7, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet1 HENRY WARD VET'TY BY ATTOIQIUEV Dec. 4-, 1962 H. w. PETTY MASONRY WALLJOINT AND COVER THEREFOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. '7, 1957 INVENTOR.

HENRY WARD PET'TY QTTOPIl/EY snsaesi M AEGNRY WALL .l-(DHWT AND C(IWEF.THEEEFQ'R Henry Ward Petty, 39 E. Main St., Meorestovrn, Nul Filed Get.7, 1957, Ser. No. 658,719 7 Claims. (*l. Sit-212) This invention relatesgenerally to means for constructing joints between adjoining sections ofbuilding Walls, and more particularly to improved means for coveringsuch joints and thereby enhancing the appearance of the wall.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a framestructure unit adapted for use in both vertically and horizontallyextending joints and which, While allowing some movement of the wallsections in a direction parallel to the wall, effectively secures thewall sections against movement laterally relative to one another.

Another principal object of the present invention is to provide such aframe structure unit which may be conveniently utilized to construct amasonry wall in a series of attractively arranged panels, wherebyshrinkage cracks are controlled to a point where the exposed masonry maypresent an attractive appearance, thus eliminating the necessity forplastering and painting the wall.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear morefully hereinafter, it being understood that the present inventionconsists substantially in the combination, construction, location andrelative arrangement of parts, as more fully described hereinafter, asshown in the accompanying drawings and as finally pointed out in theappended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a masonry wall illustrating the use ofan exemplary frame structure unit constructed in accordance with andembodying the principles of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is an elevation of a masonry wall having door and otheropenings and illustrating the use of the frame structure units of thepresent invention in vertically extending joints between adjoining wallsections.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged section on line 3-3 of FIGURE 1, the brickfacing of the wall being omitted.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged vertical section on line 44 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged partial transverse section of the framestructure unit of the present invention.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged horizontal section on line 66 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged vertical section on line 7--7 of FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view illustrating the use of the framestructure units of the present invention in a masonry wall of uniformthickness and partially faced with brick on one side.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIG- URES l, 3, 5 and 7,the exemplary structure constructed in accordance with and embodying theprinciples of the present invention includes a pair of elongated rigidmembers lit-Ml of uniform T-shape in transverse section. These membersl0ltl are disposed in laterally spaced parallel relation, the head orflange parts, designated lllll, being disposed respectively in laterallyspaced parallel planes, and the stem or web parts, designated 12-42,being disposed in coplanar relation.

For tying the T-shaped members Ill-lit} together, the structure isprovided with a plurality of elongated rigid members that are located atconvenient intervals along the length of the structure. Each tie memberincludes a pair of fiat bar parts 13 and 14 that conjointly bridgecorresponding portions of the members llll10. The bars 13 and 1d aredisposed in longitudinal continuation of one another with meeting endportions in. side abutting overlapping relation and secured together bya bolt 15 that is projected through elongated openings or slots ll6-l6formed respectively in the members 13 and 14, and which is drawn tightthrough the medium of a wing nut 17. Each opposite terminal portion ofthe tie member is disposed in side abutting overlapping relation to theweb 12 of the associated T-shaped member 10, being secured thereto by arivet 18.

Each of the confronting surface areas of the overlapping meeting ends ofthe tie bars 13 and 14 is provided with a series of serrations thatextend transversely there of, the serrations of the member 13,designated 19, and the serrations of the member 14, designated 20, beingclosely internested and operative conjointly with the bolt 15 forsecuring the tie member against axial shifting movement of the bars 13and 14 relative to one another. Each end of the tie bars 13 and 14 whichengages the web 12 of a T-shaped member lll is also provided with aseries of serrations that extend transversely thereof. The serrations ofthe member 13, designated 27, and the serrations of the member 14,designated 28, closely internest with the serrations 21 on the web 12 ofthe T-shaped member 19 and thereby, when secured by the rivets l8,prevent shifting movement of the tie bars 13 and 14 relative to the web12.

Referring particularly to FIGURES 7 and 8, in lieu of the sectional tiemember illustrated in FIGURES l, 3 and 5, the structure may be providedwith tie members each consisting of a single bar 24 essentially the samein every respect to the tie member bar 13 described hereinbefore. Inthis case the slotted end portion of the bar 24 is connected directly tothe web of the associated effective length that affords a suitable cleardistance between the flanges llll of the T-shaped members Illll),depending upon the thickness of the wall desired. Then the units areerected at selected locations where construction joints are desired,being temporarily supported in any suitable manner. Now a section of themasonry wall designated B, is built up between each successive pair ofthe units A.

Referring particularly to FIGURES 3 and 6, on each side of each unit Athe associated vertically extending end portion of the masonry wallsection, designated C, extends into the unit and nests snugly betweenthe flanges ll1ll, and close up to the webs l212, of the T-shapedmembers l-llh in consequence of which the webs l212 of the T-shapedmembers and the tie members are disposed within the vertically extendingbreak between adjoining wall sections BB, which break, designated D, iscovered and completely concealed from view by the flanges 11-11respectively on opposite sides of the wall, as shown.

The frame structure of the present invention may be utilized with equalfacility to form horizontally extending construction joints. A masonrywall section is built up to a desired height. Then a unit of the framestructure, adjusted to the thickness of the wall, is fitted over the topof the wall section. Now a second wall section is built upon the firstframe structure unit and capped with a second frame structure unit,etc., until the desired spanner height is attained. The webs ll212 ofthe T-shaped members and the tie members are disposed within thehorizontally extending break between adjoining wall section, which breakis covered and completely concealed from view by the flanges Ill-11respectively on opposite sides of the wall, in the same manner asdescribed hereinbefcre in the case of vertically extending breaks inmasonry walls.

If desired, both vertically and horizontally extending frame structureunits may be incorporated in the same wall to'advantage, whereby tosubdivide the wall into rectangular panels arranged in an attractivepattern.

It will be appreciated that wall cracks that normally develop in masonrywalls due to shrinkage of the material and expansion and contraction dueto temperature changes are effectively controlled by the liberal use ofthe frame structure units of the present invention, in consequence ofwhich the appearance of the masonry is enhanced, and it can be exposedto view without being plastered, painted or otherwise dressed, which ofcourse makes for economy of construction.

Wherever a frame structure unit of the present invention is utilized,the ends of walls built into opposite sides thereof are free to shiftsomewhat relative to the unit in a direction parallel to the wall, butthe unit is operative to secure said wall ends against becomingmisaligned by shifting laterally relative to one another. Thus, inaddition to affording a wall that is more attractive and economical toconstruct, these frame structure units afford a wall that is effectivelyreinforced against bulging. Certain other advantages are inherent in theframe structure units of the present invention.

For example, such units may be used to advantage over the'tops and/orbottoms of door and other openings in the wall, as best shown in FlGURE2, to prevent the development of cracks that normally appear in theseareas. Such units may be made to follow irregular wall contours. Forexample, as best shown in FIGURES 2 and 4, where a wall, otherwiseuniform in thickness, is provided with facing or any other outwardprojection on one side thereof, a section of the web of the T-shapedmember on the side of the wall provided with the facing or projectionmay be cut out, as at 25, and the portion of the flange opposite the cutout, designated in, may then be fitted to the irregular contour. Thenthe tie members above and below the top of the cut out are adjusted tothe different wall thicknesses.

While the frame structure units of the present invention preferably aremade of suitable metals, such as aluminum, bronze, brass, steel, etc.,it will be understood that other materials, for example, plasticmaterials, may be found suitable, depending upon the particularapplication.

It will be understood, of course, that the present invention issusceptible to various changes and modifications which may be made fromtime to time without departing from the real spirit or generalprinciples thereof, and accordingly it is intended to claim the samebroadly, as well as specifically, as indicated by the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and useful is:

1. An open frame structure for use in securing together individualsections of masonry walls comprising a pair of rigid elongated membersof uniform T-shape in transverse section disposed in laterally spacedparallel relation to one another respectively upon opposite sides ofsaid frame structure, with the flange parts of said members disposedrespectively in laterally spaced parallel planes and the web parts ofsaid members extending inwardly respectively from said flanges towardone another, and a plurality of rigid elongated tie members bridgingbetween and having opposite terminal ends secured to the facing webparts of said T-shaped members, said tie members being disposedlaterally in longitudinally spaced parallel relation to one another atintervals along the length of the Web parts,

each of said tie members including a pair of parts having end portionsdisposed in end-overlapped lateral continuation of one another andhaving a bolt and slot type con= nection between the overlapped endportions whereby the effective length of each of each tie member may beindependently varied, the interior spacing between the flanges of saidelongated members being adjusted by said tie members to correspond tothe thickness of the masonry wall sections, the wall sections faces atthe ends thereof being thereby adaptable for clamping between theflanges of said elongated members, whereby a pair of ad jacent wallsections endwise aligned with their corresponding faces in common planesare fixedlysecurable in such alignment by said frame structure but'arenonfixedly securable for wall section movement in directions parallel tosaid common planes.

2. An open frame structure as defined in claiml wherein the confrontingsurface areas of the overlapping tie member end portions are providedwith internested serrations extending transversely of said parts.

3. An open frame structure as defined in claim 1 wherein each of theopposite terminal ends of the tie member is disposed in side abuttingoverlapping relation to the web part of the associated T-shaped member,and the confronting surface areas of the overlapping end portions ofeach tie member and of each tie member terminal end and the web part ofthe associated T-shaped member are provided with internested serrationsextending lengthwise of said frame structure.

4. In a masonry structure of the character described comprising, incombination, a pair of vertically standing masonry wall sections inspaced-apart endwise alignment with corresponding wall faces in commonplanes, a pair of elongated members of T-shape in transverse sectiondisposed with their web portions projecting toward each other betweenthe spaced-apart ends of said wall sectionsand with their flangeportions overlying and bearing against the corresponding faces of saidendwise aligned wall sections to reinforce said wall sections and'cover'the end space therebetween while allowing for shifting-movementof said wall sections relative to said T-shaped members in the plane ofthe wall faces, the web portions of "said 'T shaped members beinginterconnected at spaced points along the length thereof by parallelindependently adjustable tie member assemblies secured-to and extendingtherebetween, each such tie member assembly including relativelyshiftable parts laterally changing the spacingbetween the T-shapedmembers and lockable to one another in any relatively shifted position,said parts being connected to the web portions of said T-shaped membersto thereby permit selective adjustment of the spacing between saidT-shaped members at each'tie member assembly location, each said wallsection having contiguous vertically positioned wall areas of differentthickness but wherein correspondingly located wall areas in both wallsections are of the same thickness, and at least one of said T- shapedmembers is provided with a cut-out web region to facilitate cramping theflange area associated therewith to conform to the wall face where thewall thickness changes.

5. In a masonry structure of the character described comprising, incombination, a pair of vertically standing masonry wall sections inspaced-apart endwise alignment with corresponding wall faces in commonplanes, a pair of elongated members of T-shape in transverse sectiondisposed with their web portions projecting toward each other betweenthe spaced-apart ends of said wall sections and with their flangeportions overlying and bearing against the corresponding faces of saidendwise aligned wall sec' tions to reinforce said wall sections andcover the end space therebetween while allowing for shifting movement ofsaid wall sections relative to said T-shaped members. in the plane ofthe'wall faces, the web portions of said T- shaped members beinginterconnected at spaced points. along the length thereof by parallelindependently adjusta-. ble tie member assemblies secured to andextending there-. between, each such time member assembly includingrela-. tively shiftable parts laterally changing the spacing be tweenthe T-shaped members and lockable to one another in any relativelyshifted position, said parts being connected to the web portions of saidT-shaped members to thereby permit selective adjustment of the spacingbetween said T-shaped members at each tie member assembly location, eachsaid wall section having contiguous vertically positioned wall areas ofdifferent thickness but wherein correspondingly located wall areas inboth wall sections are of the same thickness, and at least one of saidT-shaped members is transversely cut into lengths corresponding to theextent and number of wall areas of difierent thickness in each wallsection, each such cut length being secured to the other of said pair ofT-shaped members by the tie members as aforesaid to cover the endspacebetween said wall sections throughout the vertical extent thereofregardless of wall area thickness.

6. An open frame structure as defined in claim 1 wherein the terminalends of said tie members are each connected to the Web parts of theT-shaped members by a fastener element projected through said terminalends and Web parts, and internested formations on confronting surfaceareas of said terminal ends and web parts operate conjointly with saidfastener element to secure said tie members and web parts againstmovement relative to one another.

7. A masonry wall structure, comprising in combination, a pair ofvertically standing masonry wall sections in spaced apart endwisealignment with corresponding wall faces in common planes, each such wallsection being progressively built up of horizontal courses of masonryblocks bonded together so that the unbonded ends of the terminal blocksin all courses of each wall section are in substantially verticalalignment, a pair of elongated solid members of T shape in transversesection disposed with their solid web portions projecting toward eachother between the spaced-apart unbonded facing ends of the terminalblocks of said pair of wall sections and with the flanges of their solidhead portions overlying and bearing against the corresponding faces ofsaid endwise aligned wall sections to reinforce said wall sections andcover the end space therebetween while allowing for shifting movement ofsaid wall sections relative to said T-shaped members in the plane of thewall faces, the web portions of said T-shaped members beinginterconnected at spaced points along the length thereof by parallelindependently adjustable tie member assemblies secured to and extendingtherebetween, each such tie member assembly including relativelyshiftable parts laterally changing the spacing between Lhe T-shapedmembers and lockable to one another in any relatively shifted position,said parts being connected to the web portions of said T-shaped membersto thereby permit selective adjustment of the spacing between saidT-shaped members at each tie member assembly location, said tie memberassemblies being successively individually adjusted as the courses ofthe wall sections are built up to each point where an assembly issecured between the webs to thereby move the flanges of the T- shapedmembers toward one another and clamp the faces of the wall sectionstherebetween, said tie member assemblies being thereafter concealedcompletely from external View between the wall sections as the latterare built up therebeyond because of the outwardly overlying solid headportions of the T-shaped members.

References (Iite in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS318,126 Marsh May 19, 1885 674,304 Ohman May 14, 1901 676,785 ToelpeJune 18, 1901 844,296 Winslow Feb. 12, 1907 1,085,429 Kahn Jan. 27, 19141,188,959 McAlarney June 27, 1916 2,023,987 Barnhart Dec. 10, 19352,121,213 Small June 21, 1938 2,126,962 Hurlbert Aug. 16, 1938 2,235,761Goldsmith Mar. 18, 1941 2,317,635 Olsen Apr. 27, 1943 2,742,776 PeirceApr. 24, 1956 2,815,832 Schwartz Dec. 10, 1957 2,909,252 Sherron Oct.20, 1959 2,962,133 Kivett et a1 Nov. 29, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 15,802Great Britain July 9, 1914 434,681 Germany Sept. 28, 1926 816,455Germany Oct. 11, 1951

